FREEMAN HOLIDAY FUND: Single mom gets lift from Family of Woodstock

This is one in a series of stories about the people and agencies that benefit from the Freeman Holiday Fund.

KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Family of Woodstock helped Jennifer Stevens end a downward spiral in her life that culminated with jail time following a drug arrest, and now she is enrolled in college with ambitions to someday start her own business.

Stevens (not her real name) said it all started when she was laid off from a retail job last year, and the 27-year-old struggled to support her two children, ages 7 and 8, while she unsuccessfully applied for job after job.

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She eventually moved in with relatives who abused drug and alcohol, and Stevens recalled she tried cocaine for the first time as an escape from her problems.

More than a month later, she was arrested by Kingston police and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and Stevens ended up spending about six months in jail.

Stevens described the arrest as a wake-up call. She attributed her struggles in getting a job to her lack of education and got a general education diploma while she was in jail.

When she got out, however, Stevens had no money and nowhere to go. She applied for assistance through the Ulster County Department of Social Services, and the agency assigned her to Family of Woodstock's care.

"It's the best thing they could have done for me," said Stevens.

Stevens and her children have been living at the Family Inn while she tries to get back on her feet, and with the agency's support and encouragement, she feels like she is on her way to getting back on her feet.

Stevens said Family supported her in applying to Ulster County Community College, and she is now enrolled to study business there next semester. She hopes to own her own business someday.

With her temporary assistance running out, Stevens said Family helped her apply for a state case management program that will pay 80 percent of her rent so she can use her other income to buy a car and pay for her education as she tries to get her life on the right track.

The Family Inn also made sure she did not have to worry about her children going without Christmas presents this year.

In addition to Family of Woodstock, the Freeman Holiday Fund also benefits People's Place of Kingston and the Community Action Agency programs in Dutchess, Greene and Ulster counties. Other regional charitable organizations may be added to the list if collections are sufficient. Contributions may be mailed to Holiday Fund, Daily Freeman, 79 Hurley Ave., Kingston, N.Y. 12401. Contributors' names will be published periodically, though requests for anonymity will be honored. Questions about the fund should be directed to Geraldine Wilson, the publisher's administrative assistant. She can be reached at (845) 331-5000, ext. 550, or by email at gwilson@freemanonline.com.